The NBA is on the verge of a historic step in its growth. After more than 20 years without adding new franchises — the last expansion took place in 2004 with the Charlotte Bobcats — the league is preparing to grow from 30 to 32 teams. On March 25, 2026, the NBA Board of Governors formally approved exploring expansion, focusing exclusively on two cities: Seattle and Las Vegas.

Commissioner Adam Silver has been clear on the matter. According to his statements, the decision reflects the board’s interest in evaluating markets with a long history of supporting professional basketball. The league has hired the investment bank PJT Partners as a strategic advisor to analyze potential ownership groups, arena infrastructure, and the overall economic impact of the operation.

If everything proceeds as planned, the new franchises could begin playing in the 2028-29 season. Adam Silver has indicated that the league expects to have a clear decision before the end of 2026. The goal is not only to increase the number of teams, but to do so in a way that economically benefits the existing 30 franchises and maintains the league’s competitive balance.

Seattle stands out as the strongest candidate. The city already had a successful team from 1967 to 2008: the Seattle SuperSonics, who won the championship in 1979 and featured legends such as Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. When the team relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder, Seattle fans were left with a huge void. Today, the Climate Pledge Arena is modern and ready to host an NBA team. Recently, the ownership group of the NHL’s Kraken acquired majority control of the arena, clearly preparing for a possible return of professional basketball.

Las Vegas, on the other hand, represents a unique opportunity for spectacle and growth. The city has hosted the NBA Summer League for years and has also been the site of the NBA Cup finals. In addition, it already has teams in the NFL (Raiders), NHL (Golden Knights), and WNBA (Aces), and will soon have a new stadium for the Athletics of MLB. Major investment groups have shown interest, including rumors of involvement from figures like Magic Johnson. Although it has no prior NBA history, its ability to generate revenue and attract stars makes it a highly attractive option.

The NBA’s expansion history has been steady over the decades. The league began in 1946 with only 11 franchises and has grown through several waves, adding teams such as the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, and the current New Orleans Pelicans. Each expansion has brought new markets, young talent through the expansion draft, and an economic boost to the league.

Several factors explain why the NBA is choosing to expand now. First, league revenues continue to rise, with projections exceeding $14 billion for the 2025-26 season. The expansion fee per team could range between $3 billion and $4 billion, an amount that would be distributed among the existing franchises. Furthermore, both Seattle and Las Vegas represent attractive markets that are not yet covered by the NBA. At the same time, the league continues to advance globalization projects, such as the possible creation of a league in Europe.

Although the current focus is solely on Seattle and Las Vegas, other cities such as Mexico City, Montreal, Vancouver, or Kansas City have been mentioned in the past. For now, the league prefers to concentrate on these two strongest candidates.

If the expansion is confirmed, thousands of fans in Seattle will regain professional basketball after nearly 20 years of absence. In Las Vegas, a new franchise with its own identity will be born in one of the most vibrant and tourist-filled cities in the world. In addition, an expansion draft will be held, allowing the new teams to select players from existing rosters and creating movement and opportunities across the league.

The NBA continues to establish itself as one of the most dynamic and global sports leagues in the world. With this potential expansion to 32 teams, Adam Silver and the owners seek not only to grow in size, but to strengthen the league’s dominance in 21st-century sports entertainment.